Vulnerable favourites: the Cheltenham fancies the bookies want to take on

The Cheltenham Festival is just over a week away and the picture of each individual race is becoming clearer by the hour. Punters will be hoping for more than the eight winning favourites at the meeting last year, while bookmakers pray for copious upsets. Here are the market leaders the layers want to oppose.

Shishkin
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Tuesday

We're keen to get off to a flying start and take on Shishkin in this year's Cheltenham Festival opener, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old has looked impressive on his last two starts and his trainer certainly knows what is required to win this race. However, this year's race looks particularly competitive with numerous creditable rivals and he looks short enough at 5-2 in what is sure to be a different test to what he's experienced so far.
Ken Dickson, Sky Bet

Shishkin (centre): Supreme hope came clear in style at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker racingpost.com/photos

Shishkin
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Tuesday

We expect Shishkin to be well supported and we’re also offering money back if your horse is placed second, third or fourth in all races on day one, so we anticipate having big liabilities on Nicky Henderson's potential superstar. It's one of the most competitive races of the week and could be run on soft ground. We’re excited to take him on.
Paul Binfield, Paddy Power

Shishkin
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Tuesday

He looks a top-class prospect, but 5-2 looks short considering Abacadabras and Asterion Forlonge have better form in the book. If we can get him beaten, it will be a great start for us as not only will he be popular in singles, but it will also wipe out the vast majority of accumulators on the day.
Andrew Griffiths, Betfred

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Wednesday

The horse we will be looking to lay is Envoi Allen, who we are top price about in the Ballymore. He hasn't raced over the trip on soft or heavy ground, so there are definite question marks, especially given there are some very good stayers in the race. He also hasn’t been seen since early January and skipped the Dublin Racing Festival. There's reason to think he can get turned over.
Nicola McGeady, Ladbrokes

Envoi Allen
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Wednesday

There are plenty we're happy to take on because of so many variables but the main one would be Envoi Allen, who we believe is vulnerable in the Ballymore. He faces viable opposition from the likes of Sporting John, The Big Breakaway and The Big Getaway, who have done nothing wrong this season, and it’s certainly not a one-horse race. For the same reasons we’re keen to lay Solo in the Triumph Hurdle, while Champion Bumper favourite Appreciate It is far too short for what he’s achieved.
Brett Williams, Unibet

Champ and Barry Geraghty are clear of eventual winner Midnight Shadow when getting the second-last fence badly wrong in the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's DayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Champ
RSA Insurance Novices' Chase, Wednesday

For us it's Champ in the RSA. In this race you cannot afford to put in a bad mistake and he'll always have one in him. He also faces stiff opposition from last year's Albert Bartlett winner Minella Indo, who was impressive at Navan and will improve significantly for that effort. Allaho caught the eye when winning at Fairyhouse, and if you put stablemate Faugheen into the equation then Champ has a tough task to justify favouritism.
Alan Reilly, BoyleSports

Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Wednesday

We'll be against Appreciate It in the Champion Bumper. There's no doubt he’s the one to beat, but there are many unexposed types who may well improve significantly on their previous form. Some talented horses have won this in the past – Cue Card at 40-1 in 2010 after just one run, for example. In addition, we feel there will be plenty of runners on the day and luck in running may well be on our side.
Pat Cooney, bet365

A Plus Tard (red): beat Champion Chase fancy Chacun Pour Soi earlier in the seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ryanair Chase, Thursday

While he was hugely impressive when winning the novices' handicap chase last year, we're not convinced his form this season entitles him to be clear favourite over Min and Frodon, who have shown comparable, if not better form.
Jamie McBride, William Hill

Solo
Triumph Hurdle, Friday

We want to go after Solo. He's going to attract a lot of support as he's a Paul Nicholls-trained favourite of the Triumph, the first race on the biggest betting day of the week. To have a real run at a vulnerable favourite in the first of seven huge races makes sense. He's going to be massively overbet and even if he wins, we have six races to get it back! He was massively impressive at Kempton but Cheltenham is a different track.
Simon Clare, Coral

Expert view

A fair few of the shorter-priced favourites this year appear to have gilt-edged chances on ratings and recent form, most notably Paisley Park, Appreciate It and Benie Des Dieux (Mares' Hurdle). Those three look solid to me, as does Tiger Roll in the Cross Country.

I'm not as convinced by Thyme Hill (Albert Bartlett) and Minella Melody (Mares' Novice Hurdle) and will look to take both on.

The former progressed nicely before Christmas but hasn't been seen for three months and the form of his Challow win doesn't look strong now.

Minella Melody boasts a nice profile but could be vulnerable against some younger, unexposed types. Willie Mullins has won all four editions of the race and must have a good chance of recording the five-timer.
Tom Collins, tipster

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